| English Dictionary |
GIVE (gave, given)
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
, given Dictionary entry overview: What does give mean?
• GIVE (noun)
The noun GIVE has 1 sense:
1. the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
Familiarity information: GIVE used as a noun is very rare.
• GIVE (verb)
The verb GIVE has 44 senses:
1. cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
2. be the cause or source of
3. transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody
4. convey or reveal information
5. convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow
6. organize or be responsible for
7. convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture
8. give as a present; make a gift of
9. cause to happen or be responsible for
10. dedicate
11. give or supply
12. transmit (knowledge or skills)
13. bring about
14. leave with; give temporarily
15. emit or utter
16. endure the loss of
17. place into the hands or custody of
18. give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
19. give (as medicine)
20. give or convey physically
21. bestow
22. bestow, especially officially
23. move in order to make room for someone for something
24. give food to
25. contribute to some cause
26. break down, literally or metaphorically
27. estimate the duration or outcome of something
28. execute and deliver
29. deliver in exchange or recompense
30. afford access to
31. present to view
32. perform for an audience
33. be flexible under stress of physical force
34. propose
35. accord by verdict
36. manifest or show
37. offer in good faith
38. submit for consideration, judgment, or use
39. guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion
40. allow to have or take
41. inflict as a punishment
42. occur
43. consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man
44. proffer (a body part)
Familiarity information: GIVE used as a verb is very familiar.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
The elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
give; spring; springiness
Hypernyms ("give" is a kind of...):
elasticity; snap (the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed)
Derivation:
give (be flexible under stress of physical force)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it gives Past simple: gave
Past participle: given
-ing form: giving
Sense 1
Meaning:
Cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Context example:
The draft gave me a cold
Verb group:
afford; give; yield (be the cause or source of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
infect (communicate a disease to)
award; grant (give as judged due or on the basis of merit)
deliver; drive home (carry out or perform)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Sentence examples:
They give the food to the people
They give the people the food
Sense 2
Meaning:
Be the cause or source of
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
Context example:
Our meeting afforded much interesting information
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)
Verb group:
give (cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
open; open up (make available)
allow; allow for; leave; provide (make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Context example:
She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
transfer (cause to change ownership)
Cause:
have; have got; hold (have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
enfeoff (put in possession of land in exchange for a pledge of service, in feudal society)
vest (place (authority, property, or rights) in the control of a person or group of persons)
dispense with; give up; part with; spare (give up what is not strictly needed)
repay; requite (make repayment for or return something)
furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)
lend; loan (give temporarily; let have for a limited time)
cede; concede; grant; yield (give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another)
bank; deposit (put into a bank account)
chip in; contribute; give; kick in (contribute to some cause)
offer; proffer (present for acceptance or rejection)
heap (bestow in large quantities)
administer; allot; deal; deal out; dish out; dispense; distribute; dole out; lot; mete out; parcel out; shell out (administer or bestow, as in small portions)
cater; ply; provide; supply (give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance)
cough up; pony up; spit up (give reluctantly)
lease; let; rent (grant use or occupation of under a term of contract)
support (support materially or financially)
pay (give money, usually in exchange for goods or services)
accord; allot; grant (allow to have)
present; submit (hand over formally)
bestow (give as a gift)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Antonym:
take (take into one's possession)
Also:
give back (pay back)
Derivation:
giver (person who makes a gift of property)
giving (disposing of property by voluntary transfer without receiving value in return)
giving (the act of giving)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Convey or reveal information
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Context example:
Give one's name
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
say; state; tell (express in words)
Verb group:
give; impart; leave; pass on (transmit (knowledge or skills))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
quote (name the price of)
cast (deposit)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
giving (the imparting of news or promises etc.)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
give; pay
Context example:
pay attention
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
extend; offer (offer verbally)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 6
Meaning:
Organize or be responsible for
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
Context example:
give a course
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
direct (be in charge of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 7
Meaning:
Convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
give; throw
Context example:
She gave me a dirty look
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Sense 8
Meaning:
Give as a present; make a gift of
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
Context example:
What will you give her for her birthday?
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
render; submit (make over as a return)
tender (offer or present for acceptance)
donate (give to a charity or good cause)
treat (provide with a gift or entertainment)
deed over; grant (transfer by deed)
cede; deliver; give up; surrender (relinquish possession or control over)
bung; fee; tip (give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the compensation agreed on)
raffle; raffle off (dispose of in a lottery)
give away (make a gift of)
distribute; give out; hand out; pass out (give to several people)
dower; endow (furnish with an endowment)
regift (give a present that one has received to someone else)
bequeath; leave; will (leave or give by will after one's death)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Derivation:
giver (person who makes a gift of property)
giving (disposing of property by voluntary transfer without receiving value in return)
Sense 9
Meaning:
Cause to happen or be responsible for
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
give; yield
Context example:
His two singles gave the team the victory
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
create; make (make or cause to be or to become)
Verb group:
generate; give; render; return; yield (give or supply)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 10
Meaning:
Dedicate
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
Context example:
pay attention to
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)
Verb group:
give; sacrifice (endure the loss of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s something PP
Sense 11
Meaning:
Give or supply
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
generate; give; render; return; yield
Context example:
The estate renders some revenue for the family
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
create; make; produce (create or manufacture a man-made product)
Verb group:
give; yield (cause to happen or be responsible for)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 12
Meaning:
Transmit (knowledge or skills)
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
Context example:
impart a new skill to the students
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
tell (let something be known)
Verb group:
bequeath; leave; will (leave or give by will after one's death)
give (convey or reveal information)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
convey ((of information) make known; pass on)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Derivation:
giving (the imparting of news or promises etc.)
Sense 13
Meaning:
Bring about
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
establish; give
Context example:
The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
create; make (make or cause to be or to become)
Verb group:
generate; give; render; return; yield (give or supply)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
introduce (bring in or establish in a new place or environment)
pacify (fight violence and try to establish peace in (a location))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 14
Meaning:
Leave with; give temporarily
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Context example:
Can I give you the children for the weekend?
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
give; hand; pass; pass on; reach; turn over (place into the hands or custody of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Sense 15
Meaning:
Emit or utter
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
give a yelp
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 16
Meaning:
Endure the loss of
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
give; sacrifice
Context example:
I gave two sons to the war
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
free; give up; release; relinquish; resign (part with a possession or right)
Verb group:
commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give (give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 17
Meaning:
Place into the hands or custody of
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
give; hand; pass; pass on; reach; turn over
Context example:
He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
transfer (cause to change ownership)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
commit; confide; entrust; intrust; trust (confer a trust upon)
entrust; leave (put into the care or protection of someone)
free; give up; release; relinquish; resign (part with a possession or right)
deliver; fork out; fork over; fork up; hand over; render; turn in (to surrender someone or something to another)
deal (give (a specific card) to a player)
slip; sneak (pass on stealthily)
give (leave with; give temporarily)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sentence examples:
They give the parcel to their parents
They give them the parcel
Sense 18
Meaning:
Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give
Context example:
consecrate your life to the church
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)
Verb group:
give (offer in good faith)
give; sacrifice (endure the loss of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
rededicate (dedicate anew)
consecrate; vow (dedicate to a deity by a vow)
apply (apply oneself to)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Sense 19
Meaning:
Give (as medicine)
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Context example:
I gave him the drug
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
administer; dispense (give or apply (medications))
Verb group:
give (inflict as a punishment)
apply; give (give or convey physically)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 20
Meaning:
Give or convey physically
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
apply; give
Context example:
I gave him a punch in the nose
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
administer; allot; deal; deal out; dish out; dispense; distribute; dole out; lot; mete out; parcel out; shell out (administer or bestow, as in small portions)
Verb group:
give (give (as medicine))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
tread (apply (the tread) to a tire)
administer (perform (a church sacrament) ritually)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 21
Meaning:
Bestow
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
give; render
Context example:
render thanks
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)
Verb group:
give (accord by verdict)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
dedicate (inscribe or address by way of compliment)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 22
Meaning:
Bestow, especially officially
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
give; grant
Context example:
This bill grants us new rights
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 23
Meaning:
Move in order to make room for someone for something
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
ease up; give; give way; move over; yield
Context example:
'Move over,' he told the crowd
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)
Verb group:
abandon; give up (stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sense 24
Meaning:
Give food to
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Synonyms:
feed; give
Context example:
don't give the child this tough meat
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
cater; ply; provide; supply (give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance)
Cause:
eat (take in solid food)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
range (let eat)
crop; graze; pasture (let feed in a field or pasture or meadow)
aliment; nourish; nutrify (give nourishment to)
inject (feed intravenously)
bottlefeed (feed (infants) with a bottle)
breastfeed; give suck; lactate; nurse; suck; suckle; wet-nurse (give suck to)
breakfast (provide breakfast for)
lunch (provide a midday meal for)
force-feed (feed someone who will not or cannot eat)
overfeed (feed excessively)
malnourish; undernourish (provide with insufficient quality or quantity of nourishment)
corn (feed (cattle) with corn)
regurgitate (feed through the beak by regurgitating previously swallowed food)
fodder (give fodder (to domesticated animals))
scavenge (feed on carrion or refuse)
dine (give dinner to; host for dinner)
spoonfeed (feed with a spoon)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Derivation:
giving (the act of giving)
Sense 25
Meaning:
Contribute to some cause
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
chip in; contribute; give; kick in
Context example:
I gave at the office
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
give (transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
combine (add together from different sources)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Derivation:
giving (disposing of property by voluntary transfer without receiving value in return)
giving (the act of giving)
Sense 26
Meaning:
Break down, literally or metaphorically
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
break; cave in; collapse; fall in; founder; give; give way
Context example:
The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Verb group:
abandon; give up (stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims)
burst; collapse (cause to burst)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
flop (fall loosely)
sink; slide down; slump (fall or sink heavily)
break (curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves)
buckle; crumple (fold or collapse)
go off; implode (burst inward)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sense 27
Meaning:
Estimate the duration or outcome of something
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Context example:
I gave him a very good chance at success
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
approximate; estimate; gauge; guess; judge (judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Sense 28
Meaning:
Execute and deliver
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
Give bond
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
execute (carry out the legalities of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 29
Meaning:
Deliver in exchange or recompense
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Context example:
I'll give you three books for four CDs
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
compensate; indemnify; recompense; repair (make amends for; pay compensation for)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Sense 30
Meaning:
Afford access to
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
Context example:
The French doors give onto a terrace
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Sense 31
Meaning:
Present to view
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Context example:
He gave the sign to start
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
show (make visible or noticeable)
Verb group:
give (perform for an audience)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 32
Meaning:
Perform for an audience
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Context example:
Pollini is giving another concert in New York
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
perform (give a performance (of something))
Verb group:
give (present to view)
Domain category:
performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 33
Meaning:
Be flexible under stress of physical force
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
give; yield
Context example:
This material doesn't give
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
stretch (become longer by being stretched and pulled)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Also:
give in (consent reluctantly)
Derivation:
give (the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length)
Sense 34
Meaning:
Propose
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Context example:
He gave the first of many toasts at the birthday party
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
drink; pledge; salute; toast; wassail (propose a toast to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 35
Meaning:
Accord by verdict
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
give a decision for the plaintiff
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
accord; allot; grant (allow to have)
Verb group:
give (inflict as a punishment)
Domain category:
jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 36
Meaning:
Manifest or show
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
The office gave evidence of tampering
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
evince; express; show (give expression to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 37
Meaning:
Offer in good faith
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
He gave her his word
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
pledge (give as a guarantee)
Verb group:
commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give (give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
giving (the imparting of news or promises etc.)
Sense 38
Meaning:
Submit for consideration, judgment, or use
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
give an excuse
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
submit (refer for judgment or consideration)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 39
Meaning:
Guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
You gave me to think that you agreed with me
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
lead (cause to undertake a certain action)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Sense 40
Meaning:
Allow to have or take
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
I give you two minutes to respond
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
allow; countenance; let; permit (consent to, give permission)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 41
Meaning:
Inflict as a punishment
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
The judge gave me 10 years
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
bring down; impose; inflict; visit (impose something unpleasant)
Verb group:
give (accord by verdict)
give (give (as medicine))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 42
Meaning:
Occur
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
what gives?
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)
Domain usage:
argot; cant; jargon; lingo; patois; slang; vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves))
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sense 43
Meaning:
Consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Context example:
She gave herself to many men
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
accept; consent; go for (give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to)
Verb group:
give (proffer (a body part))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 44
Meaning:
Proffer (a body part)
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Context example:
She gave her hand to her little sister
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
offer; proffer (present for acceptance or rejection)
Verb group:
give (consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Context examples
My mother drew my right hand forward, but I was resolved, for my former reason, not to give it him, and I did not.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Give me a fine fat goose.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
Holding him suspended with one hand, with the other hand he proceeded to give him a beating.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
In fact, his conduct approached that of a bully, and he was given to swaggering up and down before Spitz’s very nose.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
"Or give me a heart," said the Tin Woodman.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
A treatment plan that involves closely watching a patient’s condition but not giving any treatment unless there are changes in test results that show the condition is getting worse.
(Active surveillance, NCI Dictionary)
But I am prepared to give you a few indications which will be of interest.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It is also a part of many substances in the body that give energy to cells.
(Adenine, NCI Dictionary)
Subsequently, a low dose of a synthetic acyclic guanosine analogue such as valacyclovir (VCV) or ganciclovir (GCV) is given, which may preferentially kill tumor cells containing the adenoviral vector and overexpressing HSV-tk.
(Adenoviral Vector Encoding HSV Thymidine Kinase, NCI Thesaurus)
Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer will come back.
(Adjuvant therapy, NCI Dictionary)
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